PACP Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 31

Thursday, May 8, 2008

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met in a televised session at 11:02 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Shawn Murphy, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: David Christopherson, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mark Holland, Jean-Yves Laforest, Mike Lake, Marcel Lussier, Hon. Shawn Murphy, Pierre Poilievre, John Williams and Borys Wrzesnewskyj.

Acting Members present: Derek Lee for Mark Holland, Pablo Rodriguez for Hon. Mauril Bélanger and Mike Wallace for David Sweet.

In attendance: Parliamentary Information and Research Service: Lydia Scratch, Analyst.

Witnesses: Office of the Auditor General of Canada: Sheila Fraser, Auditor General of Canada; Mark Watters, Assistant Auditor General; Douglas Timmins, Assistant Auditor General; Ronnie Campbell, Assistant Auditor General.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g), the Committee commenced consideration of the May 2008 Report of the Auditor General of Canada referred to the Committee on Tuesday, May 6, 2008.

Sheila Fraser made a statement and answered questions.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

Borys Wrzesnewskyj moved, — That the Committee request that Auditor General Sheila Fraser table the draft communiqué from the Privy Council Office, which contains the unprecedented attempt by the executive branch of government to vet all communications of the Auditor General, an independent officer of Parliament.

Debate arose thereon.

On motion of David Christopherson, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “Parliament”, the following: “and that the Auditor General's Office provide the Committee with a briefing note on the PCO communiqué, as they committed to do at the April 29th Committee meeting”.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 9; NAYS: 2.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Committee request that Auditor General Sheila Fraser table the draft communiqué from the Privy Council Office, which contains the unprecedented attempt by the executive branch of government to vet all communications of the Auditor General, an independent officer of Parliament, and that the Auditor General's Office provide the Committee with a briefing note on the PCO communiqué, as they committed to do at the April 29th Committee meeting.

At 12:59 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Justin Vaive
Clerk of the Committee

2008/05/08 3:55 p.m.